Box-folding machine



Aug. 19, 1924. 1,505,178

V. M. WADE ET AL BOX FOLDING MACHINE Filed May 16. 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIGJ.

INVENTORS Vfner Wade Charles I. Z uspa'n 1, WM a. @Tfw their afforneq Aug. 19, 1924.

v. M. WADE ET AL BOX FOLDING MACHINE Filed May 16. 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEIITORS' Verner Wade d Charie s Zu 5 an 1311 mmw 15.91%

t hei'r' attorney Aug. 19, 1924. 1,505,178

v. M. W ADE ET AL BOX FOLDING MACHINE Filed May 16., 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 3.

. mvsumns Ver ner MQ Wade *wC'fimZesI. Zuspan their at'i'or neq Aug. 19 1924.- 7 1,505,178

' V. M. WADE ET AL BOX FOLDING MACHINE Filed May 16 1923 5 Sheets-Sheetv 4 E! ll.

INVENTORS 'Verner M. WadeZ C'harlesf. Zuspm? AL, mzaam m @7m their attorney Aug. 19 1924.

v. M. WADE ET AL BOX FOLDING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 16.

Vi il/Il INVENTDRS VeT'ner M. Wade"? CharZesEZuspm-z by 942/4071 73. @7m

their affarne Patented Aug. 19, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VERNER M. WADE AND CHARLES E. SPAN, OF FAIRMON'I', WEST BOX-FOLDING MACHINE.

Application filed Kay 16, 1923. Serial-No. 639,226.

To all whom it may concern:

and CHARLES E. ZUsrAN, citizens of the United States, residingat Fairmont, in the county of Marion and State of West Virginia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in a Box-Folding Machine, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to mechanism for folding cardboard, corrugated paperboard, or the like, in the manufacture of taped containers formed of such materials.

Folding machines of various designs have previously been employed to fold the relativelythin and stiff cardboard used in the manufacture of candy boxes, hat boxes, and containers of a similar nature. In the manufacture of the rougher, or taped, containers, however, the paperboard has previously been folded by hand prior to its delivery to machines for taping the containers.

The object of theinvention is to rovide means for folding relatively thick paperboard, or the like, in the manufacture of taped containers, which are simple in construction, accurate and speedy in operation, and in which the folding means roper are readily adjustable for folding E lanks of various dimensions.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a plan view of the mechanism of the present invention; Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof; Figure 3 1s a vertical section on the line 3-3 Figure 1; Figure 4 is a side elevation of the folding means proper or folding head of the mechanism; Figure 5 is a front elevation of one of the folding arms of the head, illustrating the path of movement ofzthe arm and showing in dotted lines the final folding position of such arm; and Figure 6 is a vertical section through the opposite folding arm of the head.

In the drawings the reference numeral 1 designates a frame or table, which may also be employed to support slotting or scoring means of any suitable form. The means for conveying the blanks to be folded comprise parallel belts 2, and pairs of rolls 3 and 4 mounted respectively on shafts 5 and 6 which extend transversely of the machine. The shafts 5 and 6 are interconnected by means of a belt 7, and the shaft 5 is revolved by means of a belt 8 which connects the same with the lay shaft 9 of the machine. Shaft 9 in turn receives power from any suitable spectively source by means of a sprocket 10 and sprock- Be it known that we, VERNER M. WADE et chain 11. The conveying belts 2 of the machine pass over pulleys 5? and 6 on the shafts 5 and 6 of the machine. The belts 2 are driven by means of a sprocket A on the shaft 9, on which is a sprocket chain B passing over a sprocket C on the shaft D mounted in the frame of the machine. Shaft also carries a gear E which meshes with a gear 'F on the shaft 5 carrying the belt pulleys 5".

As blanks are fed to the machine they are carried therethrough by means of the belts 2, against which they are pressed by a pair of leaf springs 12. These springs 12 also serve to preserve the proper alignment of the blanks for the folding operation to be performed thereon.

During its passage through the machine progress of each blank is arrested by means of a pair of stops 13, which project above the upper surface of the table and one of which is disposed outwardy of each of the belts 2. These stops 13 are mounted for adjustment transversely of the table in the slots 14 of a transverse bar 15, and are secured in position by means of set screws 16.

The folding means proper comprise adj ustable mounting means for the folding arms, together with means for causing a rapid and positive operation of such arms. The mounting and operating means shown for each folding arm comprises a frame or bracket 18, which is adjustably secured by means of set screws 19 in the slots 20 of transversely extending angle members 21. Slidably mounted in frame or bracket 18 is a push 'rod or plunger 22, having on the upper portion thereof a rack 23. Rotatably mounted in the bracket 18 is a shaft 24 to which are rigidly secured depending arms 25 and a pinion 26 which meshes .with the rack 23.

Each of'the folding frames or arms, designated generally by reference numeral 27, 1

of set screws 30. The arm 27 is normally l maintained in lowered or inoperative position by means of a coiled spring 31 which is secured to lugs 32 and 33 extendin refrom the plunger 22 an bracket 18.

the

Both folding arms are operated by means of a cam 34, which is mounted on the shaft 9 and which bears directly against a plate 35 which is hinged at 36 to a second plate or arm 37 secured to the bracket 18. Plate 35 is in Contact with the lower extremity of push rod 22.

In use of the machine the brackets 18, carrying the folding arms 27, are adjusted 1 toward or from each other in the angle members 21 in accordance with the width of the blank which is to be folded. The effective length of the folding arms is also regulated by adjusting the rods 28 in arms 25. This regulation permits the arms to contact the blank along the entire width of the fold on each side, without interference of the arms in folding a relatively narrow blank. It should be understood that in making these adjustments the positions of the cams 34 are also changed by sliding them along the shaft 9, so that such cams are at all times in contact with the plates 35. b When each blank to be folded reaches stops 13 it comes in contact therewith at points adjacent both edges of the blank, and its progress is thus arrested until the folding operation has been performed.

The folding operation, as previously indicated, originates in the action of the cams 34 on the shaft 9. These cams, by action upon the hinged plates 35, force plungers 22 simultaneously upward against the resistance of springs 31. The upward movement of racks 23 on plungers 22 imparts movement of rotation to plnions 26 and to the depending arms 25 which carry the folding arms proper. The folding arms 27 are thus swung to fold over the desired portions of the blank A, shown in Figure 5 of the drawings. X

It will be observed that the rise of the cams 34 is so sharp that their throw is almost instantaneously. This produces a rapid action of the folding arms 27, so that the way may be cleared for the next succeeding blank of the series being folded. As the blank A is. folded, it is carried on through the machine by the belt 2 and is maintained in folded condition by the friction rolls 3 and 4. The folding of the blank permits it to pass between the stops 13, the adjustment of which toward and from each other permits the distance between them to be regulated in accordancewith the width of the blanks being passed through 'the machine.

After being folded and passing between stops 13, the blank is carried forwardly from the machine by means of the rolls 3 and 4.

The sides and ends of a box may both be made on the same unit by passing blanks through to fold the same 1n one dimension, ma 'ng any necessary adjustments, and

repassing the same blanks through the machine to fold the blanks in the other dimenslon.

It will be observed that Figure l of the drawin shows a machine in which the sets of folding arms and of belts and rolls have been duplicated. Obviously the machine may be constructed either as a single unit machine or as a double unit machine, as indicated. In the latter case one folding head may be utilized for folding over the sides of the blank and the other for foldin the ends thereof. With a machine in whic 1 the folding'heads are duplicated, blanks may be passed through one head or unit to fold either the sides or ends, and may then be passed through the other head or unit to make the folds along the other dimension.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the folding arms are enabled to perform the folding operation on the blanks as rapidly as they may conveniently be fed to the machine. 'Because of the adjustability of the folding arms and of the stops the same machine or unit may be satisfactorily em loyed to fold blanks of different width or l ength, or to successively fold both the sides and ends of the blanks.

What we claim is:

1. In a machine for folding blanks in the manufacture of containers of paperboard or the like the combination of means for conveying the blanks in extended position with a fold ng head comprising a pair of brackets, arms p votally mounted on each of said brackets, a folding frame or arm carried by each set of pivoted arms, means for arresting progress of one blank at a time in position between said arms, and means for swinging said pivoted arms toswing said folding arms.

2; In a machine for folding blanks in the manufacture of containers of paperboard and the like a folding head comprising a bracket adjustable transversely of the machine, arms ivotally mounted on said bracket, a fol ing frame or arm carriedby said pivoted arms, and means for swinging said pivoted arms to swing said folding arm.

3. In a machine for folding blanks in the manufacture of containers of paperboard or the like the combination of means for conveying the blanks in extended position, with a folding head comprising brackets adjustable transversely of the machine, arms pivotally mounted on each of said brackets, a folding frame or arm carried by each set of pivoted arms, and means for swin ing said pivoted arms to swing said folding arms.

4. In a machine for folding blanks in the manufacture of containers of paperboard or the like a foldin head comprising a bracket, arms pivota y mounted on said said pivoted arms to swing said folding arm.

5. In a machine for folding blanks in the manufacture of containers of paperboard or the like the combination of means for Y conveying the blanks in extended position with a folding head comprising a pair of brackets, arms pivotally mounted on each of said brackets, a folding frame or arm carried by each set of pivoted arms, and means for swinging said pivoted arms to swing said folding arms.

6. In a machine for folding blanks in the manufacture of containers of paperboard and the like the combination of means for conveying the blanks in extended position, with a folding head comprising brackets adjustable transversely of the machine, arms pivotally mounted on each of said brackets, a folding frame or arm carried by each set of pivoted arms, and means for swin 'ng said pivoted arms to swing said folding arms; and stop adjustable transversely of the machine for arresting progress of blanks in position for the folding arms to operate thereon.

7 In a machine for folding blanks in the manufacture of containers of paperboard or the like the combination of means for conveying the blanks in extended position, with a folding head comprising sets of pivotally mounted arms-adjustable transversely of the path of movement of the blanks, a folding frame or arm mounted adjustably in said pivoted arms, and means for swin ing said pivoted arms to swing said fol ing arms.

8. In a machine for folding blanks in the manufacture of containers of paperboard or the like the combination of a pair of folding arms arranged to operate one on each side or end of a blank for making a fold therealong, pivoted mounting means for said folding arms, pinions on said mounting means, vertically movable rack meshing with said pinions for rotating the same to swing said folding arms, and means for actuating said racks.

9. In a machine for folding blanks in the manufacture of containers ofpaperboard or the like the combination of means for conveying a blank in extended posit-ion, with a pair of folding arms arranged to operate one on each side or end of the blank for making ,a'fold therealong, pivoted mounting means for said folding arms, pinions on said mounting means, vertically movable racks meshing with said pinionsfor rotating the same, and means for actuatin said racks.

10. In a machine for fol ing blanks in the manufacture of containers of paperboard or the like the combination of means for conveying the blanks in extended position, with afolding head comprising sets of pivotally mounted arms adjustable transversely of the path of movement of the blanks, a folding frame or arm mounted adjustably in each set of pivoted arms, means for swinging said pivoted arms to swing said folding arms, and means arranged to arrest progress of a blank when in fully extended position for the folding operation thereon and to permit passage of the blank after the same has been folded.

11.In a machine for folding blanks in the manufacture of containers of paperboard or the like the combination of means for conveying a blank .in extended position, with a pair of folding arms arranged to operate one on each side or end of the'blank .for making a fold therealong, pivoted mounting means for said folding arms, pinions on said mounting means, vertically movable racks meshing with said pinions for rotating the same to swing said folding arms, means for actuating said racks, and means arran ed to arrest progress of a blank when in fu y extended position for the folding operation thereon and to permit passage of the blank after the same has been olde a 12. In a machine for folding blanks in the manufacture of containers of paperboard or the like the combination of means for conveying a blank in extended position, with ing the same, means for actuating said racks,

and means arranged to arrest progress of a blank when in fully extended position for the folding operation thereon andlto permit passage of the blank after the same has been folded. I p

13. In a machine for folding blanks in the manufacture of containers of paperboard or the like the combination of means for conveying the blanks'in extended position, with a folding head comprising setsof pivotally mounted arms adjustable transversely of the path of movement of the blanks, a folding frame or arm mounted adjustably in each set of pivoted arms, an operating shaft, cams on said shaft, and-connections whereby said cams serve to swing said pivoted arms for swinging said folding, arms.

14;. In a machine for folding blanks in the manufacture of containers of paperboard or v the like the combination of a pair of fo ding arms arranged to operate one on each side or end of a blank for making a fold therealong, pivoted mounting means for said folding arms, pinions on said mounting means, vertically movable racks meshing with said pinions for rotating the same to swing said folding arms, an operating shaft,

and cams on said operating shaft arranged to actuate said racks.

15. In a machine for folding blanks in the manufacture of containers of paperboard g and the likethe combination of means for conveying a blank in extended position, with a pair of folding arms arranged to operate one on each side or end of the blank for making a fold therealong, pivoted mounting means for said folding arms, pinions on said mounting means, vertically movable racks meshing with said pinions for rotating the same, an o crating shaft,- and cams on said operating s aft arranged to actuate said racks.

16. In a machine for folding blanks in the manufacture of containers of paperboard and the like the combination of means for conveying the blanks in extended position,

with a pair of folding arms arranged to VERNER M. WADE. CHARLES E. ZUSPAN.

Witnesses:

ESTHER M. KEPPLER, W. A SMAIL. 

